The Five Kingdoms: Book 04 - Crying Havoc

by Toby Neighbors

  “Think about what you’re saying, Zollin.”

  “I am,” he said. “I can’t just leave these people to die.”

  “Dwarves to die,” corrected the gruff-voiced dwarf.

  “I’m not leaving you,” she said firmly.

  “You don’t have to. Make camp here,” Zollin said. “I’ll go in and see if I can help them. Then we’ll decide what to do.”

  “I’d rather take you around the village,” Bahbaz said. “Then we can repair the rest of the Stepping Stones.”

  “I can’t,” Zollin said. “Besides, how long would it take us to go around?”

  “Only a few more days.”

  “We can’t risk that,” Zollin said. “The dragon would be too far ahead of us.”

  “Forget the dragon,” Brianna said. “I’m not sure you should take the chance. You don’t know if you can heal dwarves.”

  “I don’t know I can’t,” Zollin said.

  “But you don’t know for sure,” she argued.

  “It’s a risk I’ll just have to take,” Zollin said sadly.

  Chapter 12

  The giant metal doors swung open silently on well-oiled hinges. Like all other examples of dwarfish workmanship, the metal doors were well made. Hammert met Zollin at the gate. He had a look of skepticism on his face, but also grave concern. Zollin assumed they had tried everything else to no avail and Hammert was desperate.

  “We’ve tried to quarantine the sick,” said the fat dwarf. “This way.”

  He led Zollin to a large chamber that was used for feasting. The long tables had been pushed against the walls and pallets had been set up for the ill. The room smelled of sweat and vomit, but Zollin had been prepared for that. He didn’t waste any time and went to the nearest dwarf and knelt down beside her. It was a young, female dwarf, the size of a newborn human baby. Her face was covered in sweat and her skin looked ashen. Zollin let his magic probe slowly into the dwarf. Their anatomy was completely different from humans’. They had similar organs, but they were in different places, and many functioned differently. Zollin didn’t try to understand the anatomy; he was simply looking for something that was causing the illness. It took a long time. There were many hormones and antibodies that were completely foreign to Zollin, but at last he noticed a virus. At first, the virus seemed like a natural part of the dwarfish physiology, but as he spent time watching it, learning its function, he saw it attack and devour a simple protein in her bloodstream and secrete what looked to be a waste product.

  Zollin then followed the waste, which found its way to the dwarf’s very large liver, but the organ was flooded with the same antigen. It caused the liver to overproduce bile, which accounted for the vomiting and high body temperatures. Zollin continued to search but found no antibodies for the virus; instead the dwarf’s body was reacting to the problems in her liver. Zollin stood up and stretched.

  “Can you take me to someone who has been sick longer?” he asked Hammert.

  “Yes, did you discover anything?” the fat dwarf asked.

  “There’s a virus and I need to confirm what is happening.”

  “What’s a virus?” Hammert asked.

  “It’s sort of like a parasite,” Zollin said. “Only it mimics a natural part of your body and multiplies by invading and taking over your natural cytokines.”

  “What’s a cytokine?” Hammert seemed suspicious.

  “Look, our bodies are all made up of various parts that work together. Dwarves, like humans, produce cytokines, which are various types of proteins that help the different parts work together. They’re pumped into your blood by the various lymph nodes and organs. Right now, the virus is attacking the cytokines, feeding on your body’s natural protein and producing a waste product that is overloading your liver, causing it to produce more bile. The fever and vomiting are a natural result of the stress on your liver, and my guess is, after a dwarf has been sick long enough, and not eating anymore, the virus is attacking the dwarf’s body to get more protein.”

  Hammert looked at Zollin through narrowed eyelids. It was obvious that he was trying to decide if he believed Zollin or not.

  “Just take me to someone who’s been sick the longest,” Zollin pleaded.

  Hammert led the way. He knelt beside a very sick-looking dwarf. After only a few moments he realized that his prognosis was correct. The virus was eating the dwarf alive. Zollin then turned his magic on Hammert. The fat dwarf had no idea that Zollin was probing him to see if the virus had infected him, but it took only a few moments to confirm that it had. The buildup of virus waste just hadn’t overwhelmed his liver yet.

  “Okay,” Zollin said. “Here’s what I need. Do you have arkhi, or ale of some sort?”

  “We brew potato beer,” Hammert said.

  “Fine, that’ll do. I’ll need some of it and food, too. And the patients will need food. Something high in protein, but not too spicy or flavorful.”

  “I can do that,” Hammert said. “But how will we know that you’re actually helping anyone?”

  “Watch and see,” Zollin said.

  He let his magic dive back into the sick dwarf. He started with the liver and removed as much of the virus waste as possible. The easiest way was to move the waste into the dwarf’s stomach with the excess bile and then cause the dwarf to vomit. Once that was done, Zollin began attacking the virus itself. He needed to slow the progression of the disease so that the dwarf’s body could make antibodies to fight the virus. It took over an hour, but when Zollin was finished the dwarf’s fever was going down.

  “He’s still sick,” said Hammert when Zollin stood up.

  “Yes, he is. But hopefully, his body will have the time to fight the disease naturally now.”

  “I thought you said you could heal them.”

  “I am healing them. Look, the virus is basically eating them alive. Your body will naturally fight and kill the virus. It creates antibodies which basically hunt down and kill the virus. Once those antibodies have been developed by your body, the virus can’t hurt you anymore. The problem is that the virus has found a way to mask what it’s doing so that your body focuses on the waste problem with your liver and all the while the virus is eating you alive. I healed the liver, so now the body will turn its attention on what else is making it sick. Give him a little time and he’ll be okay.”

  “How can I be sure you’re not just blowing smoke?” Hammert asked. “We’re just supposed to take your word?”

  “Hungry,” said a very weak-sounding voice.

  Both Zollin and Hammert turned to the sick dwarf. His eyes were open and he was licking his dry, chapped lips.

  “What was that, Warik?” Hammert said as he bent close.

  “I’m hungry,” said the sick dwarf.

  “I told you,” Zollin said. “Feed him something rich in protein.”

  Hammert hurried out of the makeshift sickroom, and Zollin went back to work healing the dwarves. He spent several hours working with the sick dwarves, using his system for healing their livers and getting the excess bile out of their stomachs. By the time he finished he felt so tired he thought he might just fall over and pass out himself. It wasn’t the exertion of magic but the intense mental concentration that taxed his system so much. He ate some of the mash that had been made for the sick, a stew made of goat meat and potatoes. It was bland, but it was warm and filling.

  Zollin wanted to lie down and sleep but he knew that Brianna would be worrying about him, and he needed the other dwarves to find a few things for him. He staggered up the short steps that led to the balcony over the gate. He found three of the four dwarves asleep but Bahbaz had stayed awake, keeping Brianna company as they waited for word from Zollin.

  “Hey,” he said in a tired voice.

  Brianna and Bahbaz scrambled to their feet.

  “I think I’ve fixed the problem,” he continued.

  “Are you okay? You look really tired,” Brianna said.

  “I am, but it’s nothing a little
rest won’t cure. I’m getting ready to get some sleep. I need something from you,” Zollin said to Bahbaz.

  “How can we help, southlander?” the stout little dwarf asked.

  “The people here are suffering from a virus. It is very contagious, but your body can fight it off if we can boost your liver function. Is there something that dwarves do naturally to help their livers? Any kind of medicine or herb that might be used?”

  “Most dwarves have hearty livers,” Bahbaz said. “Although I know that sometimes dried cave lichen is used for dwarves who’ve had a long turn at the barrel.”

  “I need some,” Zollin said. “Can you get it for me?”

  “I think so,” Bahbaz said. “How quickly do you need it?”

  “Rest now and see about it in the morning. I think everyone in this village is going to be sick. If we don’t find a way to help the people who aren’t showing symptoms yet, it could spread to the other clans.”

  “We’ll find it for you, wizard. Rest assured of that.”

  “Thanks,” Zollin said. Then he addressed Brianna. “You okay?”

  “Fine, just anxious for you.”

  “Things will be fine here,” Zollin said. “It’s just going to take a little time.”

  They said their good nights, and Zollin found a warm place to rest and fell promptly asleep. The next thing he knew he woke up feeling nauseous. His stomach was cramping and his mouth was flooding with silva. There was a bucket nearby and Zollin crawled to it, then threw up violently. His body was shaking and he felt hot. He knew the virus had infected him, and apparently his liver was no match for a dwarf’s. In the brief respite he had after throwing up, he probed his body. The virus was there and growing, masking its presence with the same waste product that it had used in the dwarves. Zollin worked feverishly to help his liver, which meant another bout of vomiting. Then he fell asleep again. He awoke a few hours later, sick again. Unlike the dwarves’, his liver was quickly overwhelmed.

  He repeated the remedy and searched his body for the antibodies that it should be producing to fight the virus. There weren’t any. He realized he would have to stay awake and keep magically healing his liver to give himself time for his body to recognize the real threat. He sat propped against a stone wall, his body burning with fever and his magic churning inside him. He wanted the potato beer or some arkhi, but he knew the alcohol would only make his liver worse. His stomach cramped and burned as his natural stomach acid scoured the empty organ.

  When the village finally started stirring he searched his body again for antibodies and this time found a few. He would need several more hours of work to ensure that his body had what it needed to fight off the disease, but he would live.

  Hammert found him an hour later. He looked concerned.

  “What’s ailing you, wizard?” he said.

  “I caught the virus,” Zollin said weakly.

  “That’s unfortunate,” said Hammert. “Can’t you heal yourself?”

  “I’m working on it, but my liver is no match for yours.”

  “I could have told you that,” Hammert said boastfully. “We dwarves have strong constitutions. Humans have us on size, but I suspect we’re the hardier race.”

  “I agree,” Zollin said.

  “I checked on our sick. They all seem better.”

  “Good. Once I’m well enough I’ll check them again. You’re all going to get this virus,” he warned Hammert. “You already have it. I suspect most everyone in your village does. Some people will be able to overcome the disease on their own, it all depends on how well their livers function. I suggest you take some dried cave lichen to boost your liver function.”

  “You know about cave lichen?” Hammert asked in surprise.

  “Bahbaz told me about it. He’ll find some for your village.”

  “Good, at least he can do something useful.”

  “You’ll also need to spread the word,” Zollin said. “This virus could spread to all the clans. They need the cave lichen and knowledge of how to fight the virus. It would be best if you send dwarves from your village to the other clans; it will expose them to the virus and allow their bodies to create the necessary antibodies to fight it.”

  “And when should we do that?” Hammert said. “We’re short-handed as it is.”

  “You should wait until the sickness has run its course. Anyone who isn’t sick needs to stay here in case they get sick. Let the people who get well spread the word.”

  “All right,” Hammert said. “Can I do anything for you?”

  “I need water,” Zollin said.

  “I’ll send someone.”

  The hours crawled by. Zollin sipped water and was forced to vomit several more times before he felt like his body had enough antibodies to fight the disease. He fell asleep around noon, but was shaken awake by Hammert a few hours later. He hurt all over and his body screamed for more rest, but the look on Hammert’s face kept him awake.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Your woman; she’s sick.”

  Zollin stood up and gritted his teeth as a wave of nausea swept over him.

  “Where is she?”

  Hammert led him to the gate. Bahbaz and the other dwarves from the Oliad clan were gathered around her.

  “What happened?” Zollin said.

  “She got sick,” Bahbaz said in a worried tone. “It hit her hard and fast. She’s been vomiting almost non-stop.”

  Zollin put his hand on Brianna’s forehead. It was sweaty and hot. He could feel the magic inside him whipped into a fury by his worry and anxiety. It raged deep in his chest and he fed the powerful magic into Brianna, coaxing her liver back to health. Her eyes fluttered open and she recognized him. Then she was retching, her thin body spasming as every muscle locked hard and her stomach emptied. When the nausea passed, she smiled briefly at Zollin, then fell asleep.

  “Will she be okay?” Bahbaz asked.

  “Our livers can’t handle the virus the way yours can. I’ll have to stay with her. Did you find cave lichen?”

  “We did, but it will take a while to dry it,” Bahbaz said.

  “Bring it here,” Zollin ordered, then he too vomited.

  It took him a moment to regain his composure.

  “You’re both sick?” Bahbaz said in surprise.

  “I’m on the mend,” Zollin said in a grim attempt at humor. “The virus is very contagious. That’s obvious since Brianna is sick.”

  One of the dwarves opened a bag that was full of the lichen. He could feel the power in the small plant, only a whisper but it was there. He let his magic mingle with that of the lichen, and he could feel the life-giving power. It reminded him of the willow tree he had found back in Tranaugh Shire. It too had magical power, and he had made himself a belt of woven willow boughs to enhance his magical ability. That tree had been strong with the same life-giving magic, a different magic than that in his staff, which was formed from lightning and full of danger. He smiled as he looked down at the lichen, pale green and thin. Zollin let his magic pour into the bag. In only a minute he had extracted all the moisture from the plant.

  “Now it’s dry. How do you take it?”

  “Powdered, and mixed with drink,” Bahbaz explained.

  “Bring something to drink,” Zollin ordered.

  Hammett hurried away and Zollin looked at Bahbaz. The dwarf looked genuinely concerned for him.

  “I’m fine,” Zollin said. “Tired but on the mend. You should be more concerned with yourselves. I don’t know if this remedy will help.”

  “We are a hardy folk,” Bahbaz said. “We shall be fine.”

  “All right, make sure you all drink some of the mixture and avoid fermented drink for a while. Give yourself time to fight this virus.”

  Zollin levitated Brianna and moved her to a place out of the way of the busy dwarves. The village was hard at work. There were dwarves seeing to everyday chores and others taking care of the sick. Of course the constant rhythm of hammers on steel and
chisels on stone could be heard all over the village. Zollin arranged a pallet for himself and Brianna, with buckets handy for the vomiting that was sure to come. Zollin’s body was screaming for sleep, so he positioned himself as comfortably as possible and held Brianna. He knew that she would wake up soon and need to vomit again, but he dozed while she slept.

  It took several hours for Zollin to help Brianna past the worst of the virus. Her little stomach seemed to fill with bile so fast that she could last only about half an hour before needing to vomit. Sometime late in the afternoon they both were able to sleep. When they woke up the next day they were weak and famished. Zollin found bread and water beside them and gave some to Brianna, who was sore from the constant retching the day before. They both ate with trepidation, afraid that the food would trigger the nausea again, but it didn’t. Zollin probed both of their bodies with his magic and found that antibodies were busy fighting the virus.

  “I guess we should find our friends,” Brianna said.

  “Yeah, I need to see how the dwarves are faring.”

  They stood up and stretched. They had slept well, but their bodies were busy fighting the virus and they were both still very tired. They walked slowly toward the long room the dwarves had converted to a hospital. There were still dwarves inside, but far fewer than the day before. Zollin checked on everyone and found that their bodies were fighting the illness. Hammert found them there.

  “You’re up? Good,” said Hammert. “It seems that you’ve been as good as your word. Everyone is improving and we’ve had no one else fall ill since we drank the cave lichen potion you made.”

  “That’s great,” said Zollin. “Do you mind if I check to see how you are doing?”

  “By all means, southlander,” said Hammert, who was obviously in a much better mood.

  Zollin let his magic flow into the fat dwarf. He could feel the liver, working hard to clear the virus waste, but it didn’t seem distressed. And there were antibodies already fighting the virus.

  “It’s working,” said Zollin, feeling relieved.

  He was tired and ready to lie back down, now that he knew everyone would be okay. He felt a huge sense of relief, like a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He took a deep breath and let it out, feeling his body sag but also feeling a great sense of accomplishment. This village would have been nearly wiped out by the virus if he hadn’t helped. Of all the miraculous things he had done since discovering his powers, this was by far the most satisfying.